recycling variable motor timer



Au 11, 1959 M. HUFF 2,898,993

RECYCLING VARIABLE MOTOR TIMER Filed Oct. 24, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet l IN V EN TOR.

[ '15! 5 MALV/N HUFF' Aug. 11, 1959 M. HUFF RECYCLING VARIABLE MOTOR TIMER Filed on. 24, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

MALV/N HUFF' HE. Z

United States Patent RECYCLING VARIABLE MOTOR TIMER Malvin Huff, Mount Vernon, N.Y., assignor to Viewlex, Inc., Long Island City, N.Y., a corporation of New York Application October 24, 1956, Serial No. 618,098

2 Claims. (Cl. 161-1) This invention relates to recycling timers of the motor type and more particularly to such means that have variable adjustable oscillation periods.

Timers of this type are useful in a number of industrial and other applications for the automatic control of machinery.

For instance, they are quite useful in automatic slide projectors for automatically showing a new slide at regular intervals. The present timer is not limited to such application but may be used wherever it is desirable to have an automatically timed repeating control.

Accordingly, a principal object of the invention is to provide a new and improved oscillating timer.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved oscillating timer which is adjustable.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved oscillating timer, which is adjustable, of the type having a synchronous motor.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved oscillating timer having over-ride and hold controls.

Another object of the invention is to provide an oscillating timer having a synchronous motor and output arm on said motor shaft and variably adjusted means adapted to contact said output shaft for interrupting the motor circuit to repeat the cycle.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following specification and drawings, of which:

Figure 1 is an interior front view of an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is an interior side view of the embodiment of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3--3 of Figure 1.

Figure 3A is a detail view of the calibrated scale.

Referring to the figures, the timer comprises a case 1 in which is mounted a synchronous motor 2 having an output gear train 3 having a high gear ratio. The gear train is preferably the type having a mechanically coupled gear to prevent overrunning when the current is turned ofi. The motor and gear train may be of the type shown in Patent No. 2,334,040, wherein the magnetization of the field causes the bodily shift of rotor and shaft, to close the coupling thereof with the driven train or final shaft when the motor is operating and to uncouple or release the train or final shaft when the motor is de-energized which type motor drive is commercially available.

A projecting arm 4 is mounted on the output shaft 5 of the gear train 3 and a spring 6 is also connected to the output shaft 5 to return it to zero position as will be explained.

On the front of the case 1 is a knob 10 mounted on a shaft 11 which is rotatably mounted in the case 1. On the other end of the shaft 11 is mounted a plate 12 which has an extension member 12' which is adapted to contact the motor arm 4. The shaft 11 is mounted for ice rotation in the casing 1 by means of the bearing 13. Between the inside of the case 1 and the plate 12, on shaft 11, is a gear 14 having teeth along its periphery. Fixedly connected to the gear 14 is an arm 15 which extends down and has an extending flag 15' which is adapted to contact the arm 16 of the switch 17. The arm 15 is spaced from the casing 1 by means of the washer 18.

On the outside of the casing 1, as scale 20 is connected to the knob 10, which is adapted to be read against the index 21. The knob 10 and shaft 11 may be pushed in but are normally retained in the outer position shown by means of the wave washer 22. By pushing in the knob 10 and turning, the plate 12 may then be rotated and when the knob is released, the tabs 23 and 24 on the ends of the plate 12 will engage the teeth of the gear 14.

The motor arm 4 is normally held in the position shown in Figure 1 due to the pressure of the spring 6 forcing it against the pin stop 27.

The operation of the device is as follows: The time of oscillation is set by pushing in the knob 10 and rotating it to line up the index 21 with the desired time on the scale 20. This rotates the arm 12, and when the knob is released, the tabs 23 and 24 engage the teeth of the gear 14. The power is then turned on and the motor 2 will rotate the arm 4 counter-clockwise, in Figure 1, until the arm 4 hits the projection 12' of the plate 12, which we have just set. When this happens, the motion of the motor is transmitted through the gear 14 to the arm 15 with a flag 15' of which hits the switch arm 16, thereby opening the motor circuit and stopping the motor 2. The motor arm 4 is then returned by the spring 6 to zero position.

The arm 15 is returned and releases switch 17 at the instant arm 4 returns to stop 27, by a mechanical linkage comprising rod 33 which is slidably mounted in guide 33'; rod 35 which is slidably mounted in guide 35, and crank arm or plate 34 which is pivotally mounted at 34'. A new cycle then starts.

The switch 17 may be a double pole switch, one pole of which is used in the above described circuit and the other pole of which may be used to control an external circuit to perform useful work.

In the event that it is desired to hold the operation at any given time or during any given cycle, this may be done by pushing in the button 30 which will prevent the arm 15 from coming in contact with the switch arm 16.

In the event that it is desired to cut short one cycle of the operation and start another one immediately, then the over-ride or cancel button 31 may be pushed in, which will actuate the arm 15 to the right, thereby actuating the switch arm 16, to start a new cycle.

By properly choosing the gear ratios in the motor output, various timing ranges may be chosen.

Various mechanical equivalents may be used for the elements illustrated without departing from the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. Recycling variable motor timer means comprising motor means of the type wherein the motor shaft is axially shifted on de-energization to uncouple its output shaft; a first extension arm directly and fixedly connected to said output shaft; a fixed stop; return spring means connected to return said output shaft to said fixed stop; variable stop means comprising a rotatably mounted plate having a second extension arm adapted to contact said first extension arm, a switch in said motor means circuit, a rotatably mounted arm adapted to contact said switch, and means to adjustably connect said variable plate to said rotatably mounted arm.

2. Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said adjustably 3 connecting means comprises a shaft adapted to be pushed in to set, said rotatably mounted plate being connected to said shaft, a gear connected to said rotatably mounted arm, said platehaving tabs adapted to engage said gear, a calibrated scale mounted on said shaft, and a knob on said shaft.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,163,419 Warren June 20, 1939 4 Ellis Nov. 26, 1940 Tarnburr et a1. Apr. 20, 1943 Habig Nov. 13, 1945 Gacki Nov. 14, 1950 White July 10, 1951 Moore Oct. 30, 1951 Hertrich July 7, 1953 Field June 5, 1956 Mathews May 14, 1957 

